2019 HCR 46 and 47 Vulnerable Road Users Interim Report.Pdf
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LOUISIANA STATE LAW INSTITUTE PAUL M. HESERT LAW CENTER, ROOM W 127 UNIVERSITY STATION BATON ROUGE, LA 70803.1016 OrflCE OF THE DIRECTOR (225) 578-0200 (225) 578-0211 January 29, 2020 EMAIL: [email protected] Representative Clay Schexnayder Speaker of the House of Representatives P.O. Box 94062 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 Senator Patrick Page Cortez President of the Senate P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 RE: HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NOS. 46 AND 47 OF THE 2019 REGULAR SESSION Dear Mr. Speaker and Mr. President: The Louisiana State Law Institute respectfully submits its interim report to the legislature relative to vulnerable road users. Sincerely, Guy Holdridge Director cc: Representative Rick Edmonds Representative Polly Thomas Senator Franklin J. Foil Senator Sharon Hewitt Senator Gary L. Smith, Jr. email cc: David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library drp1ibrarylegis.la.gov Secretary of State, Mr. R. Kyle Ardoin adrnin(sos.louisiana.gov LOUISIANA STATE LAW INSTITUTE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE COMMITTEE INTERIM REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE IN RESPONSE TO HCR NOS. 46 AND 47 OF THE 2019 REGULAR SESSION Relative to vulnerable road users Prepared for the Louisiana Legislature on January 28, 2020 Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOUISIANA STATE LAW INSTITUTE CODE OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE COMMITTEE E. Pete Adams, Jr. Baton Rouge Sue Bernie Baton Rouge Kyla M. Blanchard-Romanach Baton Rouge James E. Boren Baton Rouge Bernard E. Boudreaux, Jr. Baton Rouge Camille Buras New Orleans Jessica D. Cassidy Shreveport Marilyn Castle Lafayette Greg C. Champagne Hahnville Susan M. Chehardy Gretna Louis R. Daniel Baton Rouge Emma J. Devillier Baton Rouge John E. Di Giulio Baton Rouge Michelle E. Ghetti Baton Rouge Craig F. Holthaus Baton Rouge Robert W. “Bob” Kostelka Monroe Loren Lampert Baton Rouge Quintillis Kenyatta Lawrence Baton Rouge C. Wendell Manning Monroe Anthony J. Marabella, Jr. Baton Rouge John Ford McWilliams, Jr. Shreveport Douglas P. Moreau Baton Rouge Sherika J. Nelson Baton Rouge Douglas Nichols New Orleans John Wilson Reed New Orleans Scott U. Schlegel Gretna Perry R. Staub, Jr. New Orleans Special Advisor Ansel “Marty” Stroud, III Shreveport Alvin Turner, Jr. Gonzales Judge Guy Holdridge, Acting Reporter Mallory C. Waller, Staff Attorney January 28, 2020 To: Representative Clay Schexnayder Speaker of the House of Representatives P.O. Box 94062 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 Senator Patrick Page Cortez President of the Senate P.O. Box 94183 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804 INTERIM REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE IN RESPONSE TO HCR NOS. 46 AND 47 OF THE 2019 REGULAR SESSION House Concurrent Resolution No. 46 of the 2019 Regular Session urges and requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the Model Vulnerable Road User Law to determine its applicability in Louisiana. Similarly, House Concurrent Resolution No. 47 of the 2019 Regular Session urges and requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to form a study group to recommend proposed legislation providing penalties for causing injury or death to pedestrians and bicyclists while operating a motor vehicle. In fulfillment of these requests, the Law Institute assigned the project to its Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure Committee, which operates under the direction of Judge Guy Holdridge as Acting Reporter. The Code of Criminal Procedure Committee then created a Vulnerable Road Users Subcommittee, which was placed under the direction of Mr. Charles Thomas as Chairman and is comprised of members of the bench and bar as well as representatives of cyclist organizations and other stakeholder groups. The Vulnerable Road Users Subcommittee held several meetings throughout the fall of 2019 to conduct background research and to discuss whether a vulnerable road user law would be a positive addition to Louisiana law. The Subcommittee considered existing criminal penalties and civil remedies, as well as legislation that was proposed during the 2016 Regular Session and the Model Vulnerable Road User Law, in crafting its recommendations. The Subcommittee plans to present its proposed revisions at an upcoming meeting of the Code of Criminal Procedure Committee and at the February meeting of the Law Institute’s Council before submitting draft legislation during the 2020 Regular Session. A final report will be submitted to the Legislature once these recommendations have been approved. Respectfully submitted, Judge Guy Holdridge, Acting Reporter Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedure Committee Louisiana State Law Institute .